UK Special Days & Festivals – ESOL E2–E3 Multi-Use Activity (with Teacher Notes)

UK Special Days and Festivals – Multi-Use ESOL Activity (with Teacher Guidance)

This flexible ESOL resource focuses on UK special days and festivals and is designed to be used in a variety of ways across E2–E3 (and mixed-level) classes.

I design all of my resources for use in my own teaching sessions, so they are tried, tested, and continually refined. With 14 years of classroom experience, I focus on creating clear, practical resources that are easy to use and effective for both teachers and students.

The activity supports reading, discussion, calendar vocabulary, and cultural awareness, and works well as a standalone lesson or as part of a wider theme on dates, celebrations, or life in the UK.

What’s included:

A learner worksheet featuring UK special days and festivals

A Teacher Guidance & Notes section, including:

Clear explanations of each festival

Typical dates or months (with notes where dates change each year)

Suggested ways to use the resource:

Matching activity – cut up and match festival names to descriptions

Group or pair work – learners find out when festivals happen (using prior knowledge, discussion, or research)

Whole-class discussion – explore cultural similarities and differences, then complete dates together

Writing practice – learners write sentences such as “Diwali is in October or November.”

The activity is intentionally open-ended, allowing teachers to adapt it for different levels and class contexts. Approximate answers (e.g. seasons or months) are appropriate for lower-level learners.

Ideal for:

ESOL / EAL learners (E2–E3, adaptable for E1+ or mixed levels)

Adult learners and community ESOL classes

UK culture, festivals, and calendar-based lessons

Why teachers like this resource:

No prep required

Encourages discussion and cultural sharing

Flexible for different teaching styles

Includes teacher notes to support delivery